Noise Blocker vs NoiseTorch-ng
Noise Blocker
closedlooplabs.comNoiseTorch-ng
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Noise Blocker | NoiseTorch-ng |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Spec score · AI Noise Cancellation Software | 7.9 (#7) | 7.4 (#11) |
| Spec score · Noise Cancellation Software | 7.9 (#6) | 7.4 (#8) |
| Integrations | The site lists Zoom, Google Meet, Discord, Slack, Teams, and OBS as compatible calling or recording apps. | The README names OBS, Mumble, and Discord as applications where the filtered microphone can be selected. |
| Latency | The FAQ says audio processing adds about 80 milliseconds of latency, varying by system. | Microphone filtering introduces 10 ms of inherent latency, while output filtering is approximately 100 ms with PulseAudio. |
| Purpose | Noise Blocker removes microphone background sounds such as fans, keyboards, clicks, hiss, and room noise in real time. | NoiseTorch-ng is an easy-to-use open-source application for Linux that suppresses microphone noise in real time. |
| Support | Personal licenses include 12 months of priority support, and the FAQ directs users with questions to email support. | Troubleshooting guidance is provided in the project wiki, including instructions for collecting debug logs. |
Plans
Noise Blocker
- Business trialFree
- Free versionFree
- Personal license renewal$30, paid once
- Personal license$50, paid once
- Business licensePrice not published
In their own words
Noise Blocker
Noise Blocker is a Windows app that reduces unwanted microphone sounds in real time, including fan noise, keyboard sounds, clicks, hiss, and room noise. Version 3 uses AI to distinguish a speaker’s voice from background sound and is designed for everyday laptops. The maker says the app needs no tuning or complicated setup. It is listed as compatible with Zoom, Google Meet, Discord, Slack, Teams, and OBS, and supports microphone audio for recording and streaming. Noise Blocker supports Windows 10 and Windows 11; other operating systems are not currently supported. Processing adds about 80 milliseconds of latency, which varies by system. The free version provides 30 minutes of blocking per week without an email requirement. A Personal license is a one-time payment of $50 for one person on up to three PCs, with 12 months of updates and priority support, indefinite use of covered versions, and a 14-day money-back guarantee. A 30-day business trial for up to 20 employees or computers requires a request and approval; no card is required.
NoiseTorch-ng
NoiseTorch-ng is a free, open-source Linux application that reduces microphone noise in real time. It uses RNNoise and works with PulseAudio or PipeWire, creating a virtual “Filtered Microphone” for applications such as OBS, Mumble, and Discord. The project describes setup as a two-click process and distributes the app as a small, statically linked binary. A Voice Activation Threshold can be set as high as 95%, or set to 0% to dampen noise without deactivating the microphone. Optional output filtering routes applications through a virtual “Filtered Headphones” device. Microphone filtering adds 10 ms of inherent latency; output filtering is approximately 100 ms with PulseAudio. The project reports a suspected update-server and repository breach, says no malicious code was found, and says updates are retrieved from GitHub releases. GitHub reports no SECURITY.md file or published security advisories. Troubleshooting guidance, including how to collect debug logs, is in the project wiki. The latest listed release is v0.12.2, released June 17.